Nigeria
Governor Okowa begs Nigerian government to revive Warri port in order to decongest Lagos
Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, has called on the federal government to quickly resuscitate the Warri port, in order to curb unemployment in the state. The governor made the call at a town hall meeting with youths, including #ENDSARS protesters, civil society groups, students, social groups, community leaders and stakeholders across Delta South and Delta Central Senatorial Districts in Warri this week. He said that with the congestion of the ports in Lagos, the federal government should revive Warri port and other seaports in Delta State to boost the nation’s economy and create employment for the youths. He stated that the rate of unemployment in Nigeria is very high, and that checking unemployment is not just about employing people into public service. Okowa disclosed that to tackle the une...
Nigerian government announces two-day total closure of Third Mainland Bridge
The Federal Government on Thursday announced a two-day total closure of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State for a concrete work on some sections. The Federal Controller of Works in the state, Olukayode Popoola, revealed this to newsmen in Lagos. Popoola said the closure would begin from midnight of October 30 and end at midnight of November 1. “We are planning to cast two number expansion joints, and we shall close the Third Mainland Bridge from midnight of October 30 until midnight of November 1,” he said. The Controller said that there was the need to shut both bounds of the bridge – from Adeniji Adele to Adekunle – in addition to the closed bound of the bridge, to complete the work. According to him, the closure is to ensure that there is no vibration on the bridge during casting i...
Adamawa government relaxes curfew
The Adamawa government has relaxed the 24-hour curfew earlier imposed on the state. Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri, who stated this in Yola on Thursday, said that the curfew would be from 8 am. to 6 pm., beginning from Oct. 30. Newsmen recall that the 24- hour curfew was imposed on Oct. 25, following the destruction and looting of government and private warehouses in the state by some hoodlums, hiding under EndSARS protest. “We shall review the timing as situation warrants. Meanwhile, checkpoints will be mounted at all the entry and exit points in the state. “This is a measure taken to stop any attempt by the thieves to escape from the state with the looted items,” he said. The governor appealed to the people of the state to bear with the government, saying the measures were in their collective inter...
NLC demands end to medical tourism by government officials
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Thursday called for an end to all forms of medical tourism especially by elected and appointed government officials. The NLC also said that with the quantum of resources available to government, Nigeria can afford to build and effectively equip some of the best hospitals in the world, with global best practices and personnel. President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, stated this in Abuja in his address on this year’s Global Day of Action on Care. Briefing, Wabba reiterated that the government must be ready to invest heavily in the health sector, saying no country survives without effective health care. He lamented that apart from the open fact that the country’s health care sector has been neglected for too long, health care workers have been subjected...
Abia asks looters to return stolen medical equipment
Abia State Government has appealed to suspected hoodlums who looted the medical equipment at the Abia State Dental Center, Aba, and Primary Health Authority office in Aba South Local Government Area to return them within seven days. A statement by the Commissioner for Information in the state, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, stated that the hoodlums who hijacked the otherwise peaceful #EndSARS protests took away vaccines, X-ray machines, sterilizers, air conditioners, fans, and other equipment as well as disposables and consumables carted away. The statement directed the looters to return the stolen items to the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Mr Joe Chinwendu, with information on the location of the items. The statement read, “Kindly note that most of the Primary H...
Osun government says 14 local councils affected by looting
Osun State Government on Thursday said looting of government and private property in the state cut across 14 Local Government Areas, as it commenced return of the looted property items to owners who can identify their property Governor Adegboyega Oyetola had granted 72-hour amnesty period to the looters to return the stolen items which expired on Wednesday, during which some of the looted materials were returned. Supervising the return of the looted items at the Parking lot of the Government House in Osogbo, Secretary of the ad-hoc committee on recovery of stolen items, Mr Samson Owoyokun, said the looting affected fourteen local governments areas of the state. The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties added that most of the looters dropped the items at either roadside...
Enugu ministry mourns late commissioner
The management and staff of Enugu State Ministry of Health on Thursday mourned the former Commissioner for Health in the state, late Prof. Anthony Ugochukwu, who died at 58 following an undisclosed ailment. A statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the ministry, Mrs Uzoamaka Ekoh, in Enugu said the occasion conducted at the ministry’s headquarters in the state capital was to bid goodbye to the late commissioner. Speaking during the lying-in-state, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ikechukwu Obi commiserated with the deceased’s family. Obi prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss as he also charged staff to always remember the legacies of the Late Commissioner and live up to expectation. He described that the late Ugochukwu as a rare gem and prayed God to grant...
NCC contributes N2.272 trillion to Nigeria’s GDP – chief
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Garba Danbatta, has said that the contribution of the Telecommunication sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen from 8.5 per cent in 2015 to 14.3 per cent as at September this year amounting to N2.272 trillion. Danbata disclosed this when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunication led by its Chairman, Rep. Akeem Adeyemi visited the Commission on an oversight The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission also disclosed that Investments in the sector had risen from 38 billion dollars in 2015 to over 70 billion dollars now while the Commission had also paid over N344 billion into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation within the period under review, an a...
NIMASA: Maritime sector can generate $1.6 trillion annually if properly harnessed
The maritime sector has the capacity to generate more than 1.6 trillion dollars annually if properly harnessed, Mr Bashir Jamoh, Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has said. Jamoh stated this on Wedneday while delivering a lecture on Maritime Security and National Development in Nigeria at the National Defence College, Abuja. “The maritime sector can generate not less than 1.6trillion dollars if we can properly harness all the investment opportunities and have foreign investors come and assist in the development. “Development in the shipping sector requires good planning. This is the right time we have to start planning. “With the estimated revenue per annum in the maritime sector, it can provide 30 times what the oil industry can provide. “That ...
#EndSARS: Four policemen die, 11 stations razed in Anambra
No fewer than four Police officers were confirmed dead and two injured in Anambra during the recent #EndSARS protests in the state by hoodlums. Mr John Abang, Commissioner of Police in Anambra said this in Awka on Wednesday during the parade of 17 suspected hoodlums. The list of 17 suspects paraded indicated that 10 of them were indigenes of Anambra, four from Ebonyi and three from Abia. Abang said 11 Police Stations were burnt down and six vandalised during which the hoodlums carted away motorcycles, ammunition and other valuables. He said about 20 vehicles were razed, including an Armoured Personnel Carrier and patrol vehicles. The Commissioner who applauded his men for the professionalism with which they managed the crisis, said lives of police officers in the state were still in danger...
AFCONQ: Kaizer Chiefs confirm Daniel Akpeyi’s Super Eagles call-up
South African giants, Kaizer Chiefs, has confirmed that goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, has received a call up for Super Eagles’ 2022 Africa Cup of Nations double-header against Sierra Leone in November. The Eagles are billed to face the Leone Stars in a Group L fixture at the newly refurbished Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin on November 13 before playing the return leg four days later in Freetown. Akpeyi manned the posts in the Eagles opening two games of the qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho in November 2019, but missed out of the team’s international friendly games against African champions Algeria and Tunisia earlier this month in Austria. Amakhosi confirmed Akpeyi’s invitation on their website, “Chiefs will be well represented on the international front next month during the internati...
Eid-el-Maulud: President Buhari preaches love, honesty
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged all Nigerians to seize the opportunity of this year’s Eid-el-Maulud to reflect on the virtues of the Holy Prophet by showing love and understanding for fellow citizens. He also urged Nigerians to avert second wave of COVID-19 in Nigeria, saying the nation’s economy cannot bear another round of lockdown. Buhari’s position was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled “President Buhari welcomes Maulud, urges love and understanding among citizens.” The statement read, “As Muslims in Nigeria join others all over the world to mark the Eid-el-Maulud, President Muhammadu Buhari has urged all citizens to use the occasion to reflect on the virtues of the Holy Prophet by showing love and understanding for...
